Supporters savour lavish feast as Anna fasts

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) As activist Anna Hazare’s fast against corruption entered sixth day here Sunday, thousands of his supporters at the Ramlila Ground had a lavish breakfast with a wide array of delicacies on offer.

With tempos full of bread pakoras, kachoris, samosas, aloo puris, paranthas, rasogollas, tea, biscuits and half a dozen varieties of namkeens, the supporters were spoilt for choice. For the health conscious, there were bananas and mango juice.

Dustbins around the ground were not enough for disposing off the paper plates with half eaten portions of several food items.

Some volunteers were even seen cajoling people to have the food, calling it ‘prasad.’

“How much food can one eat? My stomach is full,” was supporter Vijay Anand’s plea to one of the volunteers who persuasively handed over a plate of kachoris to him.

“They say it is prasad… they just won’t listen if you refuse. I’ll have to throw it away as I am not hungry,” said an upset Anand.

However, a group of children had a gala time as they flew kites in one corner of the ground and feasted on the snacks and beverages.

“I’ve heard about Anna but I am here with my friends to have fun,” said 12-year-old Suhail, a resident of adjacent Darya Ganj as he munched on a samosa.

Meanwhile, taking into account the ever increasing number of supporters and the erratic rains, new waterproof tents were being set up at the ground which will accommodate more than 10,000 protesters.

“The earlier tents are not waterproof and people faced a great deal of inconvenience due to rains. Hence, we decided that the new marquee should be waterproof,” said an official of Jindal Aluminium limted, which has funded the set-up.

Hazare began his indefinite fast Aug 16 soon after his detention while he was proceeding to J.P. Park. The same day he was taken to Tihar Jail, where he remained until Friday when he shifted to the Ramlila Ground.